The development of corporate social responsibility in the Australian construction industry

In the Australian construction industry, large companies develop corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to maintain an image of being a good corporate citizen. CSR relevant to the construction industry is defined including the following activities: moral obligation to be a good citizen; sustainability; reputation; relationship with employees and unions; relationship with suppliers and community representatives; and commitment to reporting on CSR. CSR is then examined through 85 interviews conducted with members of boards of directors, suppliers, employees, customers and community representatives of 17 large corporations. In order to be recognized as a socially responsible business, the corporations should: apply a corporate governance structure that takes into consideration working environment concerns; improve their sustainability, occupational health and safety measures, relationships with suppliers and commitment to local community protection and engagement.     

The European construction industry and its competitiveness: a construct of the European Commission

The 'European construction industry' is a fiction that tends to obscure its heterogeneous character and to mar studies and policies of the European Commission aimed at improving the internal and external 'competitiveness' of the sector. In order to assess the process of integration in Europe under the impact of its own dynamics as well as Union policies, this paper looks at the dynamics of the sector from three different aspects: as investment, production and labour process. It shows, in particular, the persistent regional and social disparities dividing the industry into separate entities. Political attention tends to focus on a small number of construction companies competing for a few projects which represent the European dimension. Yet, these companies still rely on their respective national bases and local labour from the place where construction is carried out. Persistent divisions between the states are also reflected in the low level of transnational organization of the construction industry. The policy of the European Commission generally ignores these divisions and attempts to establish principles intended to make a whole sector more 'competitive', while its component parts, operating at hugely different levels of productivity, do not even meet on the same market. This paper argues that, instead of trying in vain to introduce a 'knock-out' system of competition in the EU Member States, a targeted approach might help raise productivity in lagging regions and thus improve the basis of competitiveness on global markets.     

Integrating urban and port planning policies in a sustainable perspective: the case study of Naples historic harbour area

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the case of the historic harbour area of Naples, considered highly significant, due to its physical and cultural characteristics, with the aim of reflecting on the contemporary need for building renewed and synergic city–port relations in a sustainable perspective. Focusing on the physical and functional city–port integration, the study investigates Naples harbour planning policy between twentieth and twenty-first centuries in order to identify the limitations of older instruments and to exam the current proposal, finally suggesting perspectives for the future. The analysis highlights the fact that, in the port of Naples, with a landlord governance, the main obstacles to a more inclusive planning policy have been related to land use conflict between on one hand the public interest of the Port Authority and Municipality and the private interest of port operators on the other. In conclusion, the need for city–port plan integration is outlined as a central planning issue so as to combine the economic development of the harbour with social, cultural and ecological themes and to overcome the conflicts between the different actors involved in the complex planning process.     

从专利分析角度探讨如何提高 我国本土牙膏企业的竞争力

以牙膏的中国专利申请数据作为分析样本,对申请量趋势、技术主题分布、申请人情况等进行分析,同时对重点申请人的技术主题分布、全球专利布局等进行着重分析,以期对我国本土牙膏企业提高竞争力以及进军海外市场提供参考。     

Site operatives’ attitudes towards traditional masculinity ideology in the Australian construction industry

There is a widely accepted assumption in the construction literature that the industry is highly masculinised. However, there has been a surprising lack of empirical evidence around workers’ own attitudes towards masculinity in the sector. Addressing this lack of research, a survey to measure construction site operatives’ attitudes towards traditional masculinity ideology was undertaken in Australia using the Male Role Norms Inventory Scale-Short Form (MRNI-SF). It is found that the focus of attitudes towards masculinity in the construction industry may be shifting to reflect trends in the wider population and may be more inclusive and less hegemonic than has been previously argued. It is also found that the focus of masculinity in the construction industry is closely related to the physical and high-risk nature of work and that sexuality and humour may also be an important source of masculine identity. These results are important since they contribute a more nuanced understanding of the dimensions and exact nature of attitudes towards masculinity in the construction industry. It is concluded that future research into the impact of masculinity in areas such as gender diversity, safety and mental health would benefit from a more inclusive theoretical lens which recognises the dynamic nature of masculinity and which highlights the institutional legacies of past hegemonies that have to be challenged to move the industry forward.     

中小企业集群对提升产业竞争力的作用

当前，无论是在发达国家还是在发展中国家，中小企业集群对提升产业竞争力都有着十分重要的地位和作用。但在我国，人们更倾向于通过组建大企业集团来实现产业竞争力的提升。本文根据中小企业集群的定义，分别从经济学和地理学两个角度分析了中小企业集群在提升产业竞争力方面作用，从而得出扶植中小企业集群的发展势在必行的结论。     

试论现代企业制度创新

建立以“产权明晰、权责明确、政企分开、管理科学”为特征的现代企业制度,是我国企业改革过程中制度创新的结果,是对马克思主义企业制度理论的发展。企业制度创新,是企业文化体系里一个极其重要的理念,是企业问题的一个极其重要的组成部分,是企业科学化管理的一个重要内容和体现。     

地球科学观:中国资源战略的对策

从建立地球系统科学观的前瞻视角,探讨资源战略、可持续发展及国际竞争力的内涵、特点。本文提出中国政府需要制定资源战略,研究资源承载和进行经济安全预测,建立资源综合开发利用机制以构建和谐社会。在经济全球化趋势下,结合资源禀赋,加强决策,提升综合国力和国际竞争能力是极其值得关注的问题。     

面向集团客户信息化服务的移动运营体系分析

本文参照eTOM模型,从端到端的运营过程、面向集团客户的组织保障、面向集团客户的资源储备等几个方面,对移动运营商在信息运营时代面向集团客户的运营体系进行了初步的分析,旨在为向信息化转型中的移动运营商从流程、组织和资源开发等方面提供运营方面的一些参考建议.     

湖北荆州地区建设煤制尿素项目的可行性分析

从产品市场需求、价格水平、原料供应、产品生产成本竞争力等方面分析了在湖北荆州地区建设煤制尿素项目的可行性.